Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven, alongside 47 Senate colleagues, has signed a letter led by Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) condemning the Biden-Harris administration's partial arms embargo against Israel. The senators urged the White House to cease yielding to Iran and jeopardizing American service members' lives by withholding necessary weapons systems from Israel.

"When Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly raised the weapons hold in June, your administration adamantly denied the accusation. You ignored Congressional inquiries, including a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Marshall, a May 6, 2024, letter from Senator Ernst, a May 14, 2024, letter from Senator Risch and a June 20, 2024, letter from Senator Cotton. All the while, you were deliberately delaying the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Israel. These include 120 mm tank ammunition, 120 mm mortar ammunition, light tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, F-15s, F-35 engines, joint direct attack munition kits, 2,000-pound bombs, rifles and guided missile systems," the senators wrote.

Additional cosigners include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis(R-Wyoming ), Roger Marshall(R-Kansas ), Jerry Moran(R-Kansas ), Markwayne Mullin(R-Oklahoma ), Lisa Murkowski(R-Alaska ), Pete Ricketts(R-Nebraska ), Mitt Romney(R-Utah ), Mike Rounds(R-South Dakota ), Eric Schmitt(R-Missouri ), Rick Scott( R-Florida ), Dan Sullivan( R-Alaska ) ,John Thune( R-South Dakota ) ,Thom Tillis( R-North Carolina ) ,Tommy Tuberville( R-Alabama ) ,J.D. Vance( R-Ohio ) ,and Todd Young( R-Indiana ).

The letter highlights recent attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel: "This weekend Hezbollah fired Iranian-made missiles into northern Israel murdering twelve children and injuring dozens in the single deadliest attack on that part of the country since October seventh. The ultimate responsibility for this attack rests with Hezbollah and the ayatollahs in Iran. However while Tehran financed the attack and Hezbollah conducted it your fear of escalation has left Israel exposed and our enemies emboldened."

The senators reiterated their protest against what they described as an arms embargo: "We write once again to protest your administration’s partial arms embargo against Israel. The actions of the Biden-Harris administration run counter to our long history of robust military cooperation with Israel and cast doubt upon the reliability of the United States as a long-term security partner."

They also criticized delays in delivering military support approved by Congress: "While your administration delays Hamas continues to wage war against Israel; Houthis continue to attack in the Red Sea; Hezbollah continues its onslaught in northern Israel. Your stalling tactics are endangering our greatest ally in the Middle East and jeopardizing lives of our American servicemembers stationed in region."

The signatories concluded with an urgent call for action: "We urge you to use every available emergency authority to expedite physical delivery of all weapons and ammunition to Israel that have been approved by Congress...Your administration must stop accommodating Iran and its terrorist allies now."

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